Pandharpur, Jul 24 (PTI) The compositions of Marathi saint-poets such as Dnyaneshwar, Namdev and Tukaram will be made available in 14 Indian languages, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said.
Namdev, the famous 13th century saint-poet, enriched Marathi by composing more than 2,500 `Abhang’ poems and propagated `Bhagwat dharma’ all over the country, Shinde said at Pandharpur in Maharashtra’s Solapur district.
He was speaking after receiving the `Sant Shiromani Shri Namdev Maharaj Award’ at a ceremony at the Shri Keshavraj temple in Namdev’s ancestral residence in the temple town.
“Works of Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram and Sant Namdev are all in Marathi. It gives me great satisfaction that Marathi was granted the status of classical language during my tenure (as chief minister). We will take steps to ensure that this devotional literature reaches people in 14 Indian languages,” he added.
“Receiving this award at such a holy place is an immense blessing. This site is a living university of the Warkari (devotees of Vitthala) tradition,” Shinde said.
He noted that Namdev is revered by the Sikhs too. “He awakened the aspirations of the marginalized and propagated the Warkari path with unwavering commitment. Namdev believed in profound humanity. When a dog ran away with his `bhakri’ (flatbread), he followed it with a bowl of ghee, ensuring the animal would not have to eat it dry. Such acts reflect his deep compassion and empathy,” said Shinde, urging people to embody these virtues in their lives.
“No one in this state should go hungry, suffer without medical help, be deprived of education, or feel compelled to commit suicide due to agricultural distress. I will continue to serve the people till the last drop of blood in my body,” Shinde said. PTI MR KRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.